Gas Guzzler Tax
What it is:
The purpose of the gas guzzler tax is to discourage the manufacture of inefficient cars. The sticker on a new car should disclose the amount of gas guzzler tax that a manufacturer has paid on a car. Trucks, SUVs and minivans are not subject to the tax, allegedly because the Energy Tax Act was passed when these types of vehicles were not traditional passenger vehicles.
How it works/Example:
The Energy Tax Act of 1978 established the gas guzzler tax. Trucks, minivans and sport-utility vehicles are exempt from the tax. Auto manufacturers pay the tax directly to the government, though they often pass this tax on to the car buyer.
The tax is based on a formula that weights fuel economy based on 55% city driving and 45% highway driving. It is also based on the number of gas guzzler vehicles sold in a particular year. Generally, cars that get fewer than 22.5 miles per gallon incur the tax.
Why it matters:
A gas guzzler tax is a tax on the sale of cars with poor fuel economy.